I know that there have been reviews of this movie already posted. However, they analyze the movie more on its own, and I wanted to offer the perspective of someone who’s seen the stage show – twice – and can compare the two. I saw the Les Mis revival on Broadway in 2006, and just recently saw it in London.

Les Miserables is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. I did not know it was possible to cry that much during a 2.5-hour period, but there it was. Not just misty eyes – I’m talking copious tears pouring down cheeks six times throughout the movie, with intermittent sniffling in between. Just when the tear tracks dried, the next moment would come. They were “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Fantine’s death,” “On My Own,” “A Little Fall of Rain,” “Empty Chairs…,” and the finale.

Anne Hathaway and Samantha Barks were stunning, bringing down the house with their charged performances. I wish Eponine had gotten her lines during Valjean’s Death (“Take my hand…I’ll take you to salvation…”), instead of just being part of the ensemble. And Fantine’s death scene, edited to include Cosette, was absolutely stunning.

But the revelation was Russell Crowe as Javert. While not as impressive vocally in the first number, he more than made up for it. His two solos were wonderful – and the two scenes had a great parallel, being shot in the same location and with the same images. His death was so incredibly intense, because instead of hanging off a railing, he is pacing back and forth, about to take the plunge, as you see water roiling beneath him. I found this much more effective than the musical.

There is also a small moment inserted, where Javert pins one of his medals on Gavroche’s dead body. This one moment, added for the film, just said so much with so little – what a wonderful addition.

Aaron Tveit was great as Enjolras, but Eddie Redmayne more than held his own. He trembles as he sings, which was great as part of the character, since Marius is so intense about everything. And the split-second of Marius’s grandfather singing had him shaking as well – it’s like a singing-chihuahua family! In particular, I loved him as Eponine was dying, and that he gets the last “…grow” on his own – that one word conveyed so much heartbreak.

Cosette, without the time to develop her character in full songs, is more annoying than ever. Shame, because Amanda Seyfried is great (though why she got top billing in a movie she’s in for four minutes is beyond me). But we get so little of her, and then she’s such a prat at the end – “Oh Marius, I know all your friends just died and your cause failed, but I love you so all’s well!” The little Cosette did wonderfully and made her sympathetic, but that just didn’t play out.

Hugh Jackman as Valjean, while good, was not one of the film’s standouts to me. He didn’t really pull off the earlier songs in the film – particularly “Who Am I?” The new song, “Suddenly,” was definitely a highlight – it was needed in the story, and Jackman sang it very well. The opening song, in general, was not very good vocally – though I suppose one song had to be the turkey. I found Jackman got better as the film progressed, and his acting was so good. I’m iffy on how they changed his dying song to be more about him, instead of about Cosette – there’s no “story of everyone who loved you,” it’s all about Valjean.

In terms of supporting characters, Gavroche was adorable. The bishop played by Colm Wilkinson was superb, and I’m glad we got to see him in Valjean’s Death.

The Thenardiers, however, I was not a big fan of. They did comic relief very well, but the singing just did not do it. Sacha BC and Helena BC both can’t really sing that well. But even their limited singing was not on display very well. In particular, “Beggars at the Feast” was completely butchered, and “Master of the House” was played more for laughs – saying the lyrics very quickly – than as an actual song. Also, SBC’s rapidly changing accent was very irksome.

On the whole, though, this film is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I want to see it again… just as soon as I can emotionally go through it. Definite 10/10.